Golf tee holding unit

ABSTRACT

A game piece holding unit including an upper portion having a plurality of openings, a lower portion, a curved portion connected to the upper portion and the lower portion where each of the plurality of openings is configured to hold a golf tee.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and the priority from U.S. provisional Application No. 62/039,498 filed Aug. 20, 2014 entitled GOLF TEE HOLDING UNIT, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many sports require the use of small pieces of equipment including golf tees. These pieces of equipment, while critical to the proper execution of the game, are difficult to transport. Many times, players will forget to bring the small pieces to the required area of the playing field, resulting in a delay in the game. Conventional systems for transporting these pieces are not user friendly and often times result in the pieces being lost in transit.

Therefore, a need exists for a system that will the player of a game, such as golf, to transport small pieces, such as golf tees, with them as they play the game.

One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a game piece holding unit including an upper portion having a plurality of openings, a lower portion, a curved portion connected to the upper portion and the lower portion where each of the plurality of openings is configured to hold a golf tee.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In another embodiment, the upper portion has an elliptical shape.

In another embodiment, the lower portion is biased towards the upper portion.

In another embodiment, a plurality of gripping units are formed on a surface of the lower portion closest to the upper portion.

In another embodiment, the gripping units are angled towards the curved portion.

In another embodiment, the curved portion has a semicircular shape.

In another embodiment, the gripping units are triangular in shape.

In another embodiment, a channel is formed on a side of each opening closest to the lower portion.

In another embodiment, the channels are configured to enlarge the size of the opening when an object is inserted into the opening.

One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a method of securing a game piece including the steps of forming an upper portion having a plurality of openings, forming a lower portion, forming a curved portion connected to the upper portion and the lower portion where each of the plurality of openings is configured to hold a golf tee.

In another embodiment, the upper portion has an elliptical shape.

In another embodiment, the lower portion is biased towards the upper portion.

In another embodiment, a plurality of gripping units are formed on a surface of the lower portion closest to the upper portion.

In another embodiment, the gripping units are angled towards the curved portion.

In another embodiment, the curved portion has a semicircular shape.

In another embodiment, the gripping units are triangular in shape.

In another embodiment, a channel is formed on a side of each opening closest to the lower portion.

In another embodiment, the channels are configured to enlarge the size of the opening when an object is inserted into the opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Details of the present invention, including non-limiting benefits and advantages, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the golf tee holder of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a top view of the golf tee holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts a front view of the golf tee holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 depicts side view of the golf tee holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 depicts a top view of another embodiment of the golf tee holder; and

FIG. 6 depicts a side view of the golf tee holder of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While various embodiments of the present invention are described herein, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a golf tee holder 100. The golf tee holder 100 includes an upper portion 102 and a lower securing portion 104. The upper portion 102 and lower securing portion 104 are connected by a curved portion 106. The upper portion 102 includes a plurality of openings 108, 110 and 112 extending through the upper portion 102. The upper portion 102 may be made of any rigid or semi-rigid material including, metal, plastic, rubber or any other rigid or semi-rigid material.

The curved portion 106 may be made of a material having memory characteristics such as plastic. The curved portion 106 is configured such that the lower securing portion 104 is biased towards the upper portion 102 causing the lower portion 104 to move towards the upper portion 102 when a force is applied to the lower portion 104 in a direction away from the upper portion. An end 114 of the lower securing portion 104 is separated from the lower surface of the upper portion 102 by a predetermined distance. In one embodiment, the predetermined distance is approximately equal to the thickness of a brim of a hat. The surface of the lower securing portion 114 facing the lower surface of the upper portion 102 may include gripping units 116 that are configured to engage the surface of an object positioned between the lower securing portion 114 and the upper portion 112. In one embodiment, the lower portion 104 includes at least one gripping unit 116. In another embodiment, the lower portion 104 includes a plurality of gripping units 116. The gripping units 116 may extend long a length of the lower portion 116 or may be individual gripping units 116.

FIG. 2 depicts a top view of the golf tee holder 100. The openings 108, 110 and 112 each include elevated portions 202. Each opening 108, 110 and 112 extends through a diameter of the upper portion 102 such that an object can pass through the entire length of the upper portion 102. In another embodiment, each opening 102 is open at one end and closed on the opposite end. The curved portion 106 is coupled to one side of the upper portion 102. In one embodiment, the shape of the upper portion 102 is substantially elliptical. Consistent with this embodiment, the openings 108, 110 and 112 are parallel with the short diameter of the ellipse. In another embodiment, the shape of the upper portion 102 may be triangular, circular or any other shape.

The lower portion of each opening 108, 110 and 112 includes a channel 204. The channel 204 provides access from the lower surface of the upper portion 102 to the cavity of the opening 108, 110 or 112. The channel 204 also allows the openings 108, 110 and 112 to flex when a force is applied on opposite ends of the upper portion 102. As an illustrative example when a force is applied perpendicular to the short diameter of the upper portion 102, the channel is narrowed allowing the opening 108, 110 or 112 to deform.

FIG. 3 depicts a side view of the golf tee holder 100. Each of the openings 108, 110 and 112 is substantially circular with the lower portion of each opening having the channel 204 connecting each opening 108, 110 and 112 to the area between the securing portion 104 and the upper portion 102. Each channel 204 is formed by opposing protrusions 304 and 306 formed in the lower surface of the upper portion 102. The opposing protrusions 304 and 306 are separated by a predetermined distance with the predetermined distance determining the width of the channel 204. In one embodiment, the diameter of each opening 108, 110 and 112 is sized to accommodate the diameter of the lower portion of a golf tee. In another embodiment, the size of each opening 108, 110 and 112 is sized to be slightly smaller than the diameter of the lower portion 104 of a golf tee such that the lower portion of the golf tee engages the inner walls of the opening 108, 110 and 112 such that the opening is expanded to accommodate the tee. In one embodiment, the diameter of each opening 108, 110 and 112 is substantially similar. In another embodiment, the diameter of each opening 108, 110 and 112 is different. Each opening 108, 110 and 112 is separated from adjacent openings 108, 110 or 112 by spacer units 308. The sides of the spacer units 308 are formed by the sides of adjacent openings 108, 110 or 112.

The lower surface of the curved portion 106 is substantially coplanar with the lower surface of the upper portion 102. The curved portion 106 may form a substantially semi-circular shape. The gripping units 116 may be substantially triangular in shape with the center axis of the triangle being angled towards the curved portion 106. By angling the central axis of the gripping units 116 towards the center portion, the golf tee holder 100 is held in position when the upper portion 102 and lower securing portion 104 engage a surface. In one embodiment, the top of the upper portion 102 is removable. Consistent with this embodiment, the top may be removed to expose the openings 108, 110 and 112.

FIG. 5 depicts another embodiment of the golf tee holder 500 without the channel 204. FIG. 6 depicts a side view of the gold tee holder of FIG. 5.

In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims. 

1. A game piece holding unit including: an upper portion having a plurality of openings; a lower portion; a curved portion connected to the upper portion and the lower portion, wherein, each of the plurality of openings is configured to hold a golf tee.
 2. The holding unit of claim 1 wherein the upper portion has an elliptical shape.
 3. The holding unit of claim 1 wherein the lower portion is biased towards the upper portion.
 4. The holding unit of claim 1 including a plurality of gripping units on a surface of the lower portion closest to the upper portion.
 5. The holding unit of claim 5 wherein the gripping units are angled towards the curved portion.
 6. The holding unit of claim 1 wherein the curved portion has a semicircular shape.
 7. The holding unit of claim 5 wherein the gripping units are triangular in shape.
 8. The holding unit of claim 1 including a channel on a side of each opening closest to the lower portion.
 9. The holding unit of claim 8 wherein the channels are configured to enlarge the size of the opening when an object is inserted into the opening.
 10. A method of securing a game piece including the steps of: forming an upper portion having a plurality of openings; forming a lower portion; forming a curved portion connected to the upper portion and the lower portion, wherein, each of the plurality of openings is configured to hold a golf tee.
 11. The holding unit of claim 11 wherein the upper portion has an elliptical shape.
 12. The holding unit of claim 11 wherein the lower portion is biased towards the upper portion.
 13. The holding unit of claim 1 including forming a plurality of gripping units on a surface of the lower portion closest to the upper portion.
 14. The holding unit of claim 13 wherein the gripping units are angled towards the curved portion.
 15. The holding unit of claim 11 wherein the curved portion has a semicircular shape.
 16. The holding unit of claim 13 wherein the gripping units are triangular in shape.
 17. The holding unit of claim 11 including forming a channel on a side of each opening closest to the lower portion.
 18. The holding unit of claim 17 wherein the channels are configured to enlarge the size of the opening when an object is inserted into the opening. 